August 28, 2019
Matthew 20:13-15
 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?  Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you.  Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
New International Version (NIV)
“It’s not fair!”  We hear that a lot.  “I’ve been treated very unfairly.”  I wonder.  Do we believe that God Is fair?  For example, is it fair for God to forgive people who commit horrible atrocities the same way he forgives the person who tried to play life by the rules and rarely did anything egregious?  The Rich Young Ruler was a law-keeper who walked away from Jesus and Jesus said, “The first will be last and many who are last will be first.” 

The religious leaders who had always kept the Jewish law were concerned when Jesus started inviting tax collectors and prostitutes into the Kingdom.  How could these “bad” people possibly receive the same inheritance as the super-religious pharisees and teachers of the law?   

Jesus’ parable of workers in the vineyard addresses this question.  He told about a landowner who went out early in the morning and hired workers for his vineyard for a denarius a day.  Throughout the day at 9:00, noon, 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. he hired more workers.  At the end of the day he paid all of them one denarius.  “It’s not fair,” cried the first workers.  “If they get a denarius for a little work, we should get more for longer work.”  The landowner answered, “I paid what I promised.  The money is mine.  Why would you resent another person receiving a wage?”  He concludes, “Or are you envious that I am generous?”

There is no need to resent God’s generous grace.  It takes God’s grace to save each of us and all of us.  If he gives more grace to forgive greater sins, that is not unfair to us.  We who believe in Jesus should celebrate God’s abundant, amazing grace.  It is the only hope for the lost world.  It is our only hope.
Pray with me:    
Father, thank you for sending your Son, fairest Lord Jesus.  Thank you for your generosity in forgiving us.  We do not ask you today for what we deserve.  Give us mercy and grace we pray.  Let the beauty of your gift make us merciful and gracious, too.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen. 
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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